Widget Context UI Update 2011, Version 2

Widget Context UI Update, Version 2

Here is the second iteration of the UX update for the Widget Context plugin. Please check out the live demo and let me know what you think! 

The Concept

The number of locations where you might want to show or hide a widget can vary significantly — having “Related Posts” widget on all blog entries except on posts that are tagged “twitter” (many); or showing the “About Me” widget only on the front page of a blog (few). However, the combinations are endless.

Therefore, I realized that the most important feature should be the ability to find those groups of locations very fast. So there will be only two ways to sort through the content: (1) search, or (2) choose one of the core locations such as homepage, blog index, all pages/(custom)posts or their indices (archives).

Once you have found and selected the sections, it is only a matter of ordering (or chaining) them according to their “power” — low power locations sink to the bottom and are overwritten by the ones floating above them. This is done via drag-and-drop.

The question is — can you think of a combination of locations that can’t be covered using this approach?

10 Comments

  1. Ignacio says:

    Hi,

    Did you think about the possibility to show or hide the widget depending de “Role” of the members/users.
    In example: Professors can see a widget and students another.
    Or Store seller can see another diferent than providers or clients can see.

    I think you are on right way.

    Saludos,

    Ignacio

    • Kaspars says:

      Thanks for reminding me about the “User Role” feature, Ignacio. It has been requested before and I will definitely include it as one of the “pre-selected” visibility options.

  2. OPher says:

    This looks awesome. When will the update be rolled out?

  3. Shannon says:

    As long as I can still choose individual URLs on which to show a widget. That’s how I most often use this plugin.

  4. AllMad.org says:

    Hey Kaspars, I’m glad you’re updating the plugin; I thought it had been abandoned! I love the new UI improvements.

    The only suggestions I would add would be to make sure it’s compatible with BuddyPress (BP used pages now, so it should right?) as well as bbPress pages/roles, and like Ingacio pointed out, to support user roles, because this would be great for showing/hidden widgets for admin/editors/moderators/regular users on many sites, and I don’t think there is currently anything out there that does it.

    Can’t wait for the update, it looks awesome, especially the drag-and-drop chaining! :) Do you have an approximate release date yet?

  5. Michael says:

    Kaspars,

    I like the new interface and am awaiting the release of v.2.

    I have used the Widget Context plugin in nearly every site I’ve built. Clients love the ability to show/hide their widgets as they please.

    Great work!

  6. Adrian says:

    Awesome. I like the new interface.

  7. Zach says:

    Looks great! Really excited for this one!

  8. Mike Kennedy says:

    Still working on this?

  9. Deryk Wenaus says:

    great interface! any word on development and 3.3 compatibility?

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